Dowell Loggains shares importance of tight end play in South Carolina's offensive system

While most of Dowell Loggains‘ coaching experience mainly involves the quarterback position, he has a wealth of experience working with tight ends.

Loggains served as a tight ends coach for Arkansas from 2021-22 before taking the offensive coordinator job at South Carolina. In his time with the Tennessee Titans, he also coached two tight ends who combined to make five Pro Bowls.

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The Gamecocks’ tight end room was one of the SEC’s top pass-catching units in Loggains’ first year as offensive coordinator. South Carolina’s tight ends finished second in the conference in receiving yards in 2023. Only Georgia, who had 2024 NFL Draft first-round pick Brock Bowers as its disposal, accumulated more.

Tight ends have consistently played an important role in Loggains’ offensive system. And he said that will not change for South Carolina during the upcoming 2024 season.

“It’s always something that we believed in going back through my NFL days. When you got Delanie Walker, and some of these guys like Jared Cook that we’ve coached in the past, I think it is important,” Loggains said.

“I think that the really good teams can control the middle of the field. And you do that with your running backs and your tight ends controlling the middle of the field. People want to try to play with the middle of the field open. You have to be able to cover in between those divides and let the wide receivers control the outside half. So, it’s always going to be a position of importance for us.”

South Carolina’s tight end room in 2024 will feature two veterans in Joshua Simon and Brady Hunt. Simon, who was originally a transfer from Western Kentucky, made his debut for the Gamecocks last season. But this year will be Hunt’s first in Loggains’ system.

Both tight ends will bring a variety of skills to the table, Loggains said.

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“Brady Hunt from Ball State came in as an extremely intelligent player. (He) played in a pro-style offense, which definitely helps,” Loggains said. “Josh Simon played for us last year. Obviously, we know his skillset very well. And there were some things he needed to continue to work on as far as blocking and pass protection to take over for the role that Trey Knox had last year – he’s now with the Minnesota Vikings.”

Michael Smith, an incoming freshman, is also expected to play in South Carolina’s tight end rotation after a strong preseason. Loggains said has seen Smith demonstrate intangible skills – specifically, a dedication to watching film – as the team explores where he fits best.

“It was one of those nights when the players got out a little bit earlier, and I walked down to the tight end room and Mike Smith’s sitting in there with Dante Reno. He’s got the clicker like this, and he’s in there watching tape and watching all his reps,” Loggains said. “When football’s important to these guys, and they’re smart, tough and dependable, they’ve got a chance to be good players. For a rookie, or a freshman, to be sitting in there, just watching tape – just two of these guys going through practice – shows you how important football is to those guys.”

In the modern age of college football, personnel within certain position groups can change drastically on a year-to-year basis – and South Carolina’s tight ends room is no different. But Loggains said the emphasis the team places on tight end play is something that will remain the same.

“Trey was a different guy than Josh is. And Josh and Brady are completely different,” Loggains said. “The role changes, but the importance of the role is very important and will always be here, as long as I’m here.”

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